Martinsburg daily gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1887-1887, 1887-04-16

Objections Made to the Levying of Tax OF
Fifteen Cents Per Head on Cattle Pass
ing Through the Chickasaw Country.
National DriII-Washington News.
WASHINGTON, April 15.-Cattle owners in
Texas>have complained to the secretary of
the interior against the action of the Chicka-
saw nation in levying tax of fifteen cents
per head on all cattle passing through their
territory, enroute northward to market and
have inquired whether there exists any
means whereby they may be relieved from
payment thereof The governor of the Chick
asaw nation set up counter complaint and
informed the interior department that the
law complained of was enacted in order to
break up the practice of cattle men whose
habit it is toship large herds by rail to Colbert
Station on the Missouri Pacific railroad in
the southeast corner of the Chickasaw
country, and then range them diagonally
through the same taking all summer on the
transit, inficting great Joss upon the Chick
asaws not only by consuming the best grass
they can find, but also by introducing cattle
disease absorbing and driving off their small
herds
He disclaims any wish OF purpose on the
part Of the ChickasaWs to regulate or inter-
fere with commerce, but says: I've are
simply regulating the price of our grass"
which is valuable property, costing in Texas
pastures from fifteen to twenty five cents per
month; that there is no objection or hindraace
by tax or otherwise to the driving of cattle
on the regularly. established cattle trail in
the western part of their domain where there
is a highway open to all genuine drivers of
through herds; that he fails to see where the
constitution gives right to intruders to
saunter alopg their country roads and Craze
their cattle on ad iacent fields. The secretary
of the interior has decided the matter as
follows: IF the country roads to which the
governor of the Chickasaw nation refers are
public highways through the territory this
department. cannot recognize any objection
or countenanee interference on the part OF
the Chickasaws W til the free and uninter-
rupted passage OF uninfectious cattle there
. upon,. so long as sid cattle are kept within
the prescribed or recognized limits OF said
public highways.
IF, however, on the other hand, such cat
tie are permitted to wander outside OF the
proper limits of the established cattle trails
and public highways, and are allowed to tres
pass upon the grazing Or other lands Of the
ChlckasaWs and complaint of such trespass IS
made by the Chickasaws to the proper officer
OF the department., it will be bound to take
action as will, in its judgment, fulfill the
guarantees contained in the treaties with
those Indians, and enforce the law against
trespassers and intrudars in the Indian Ter
ritory."
The secretary, after considering re-
quest presented by the cattle owners IN
Texas, for the establishment of a new cattle
trail through the Chickasaw territory, has
decided that there is no law which empowers
the interior department to make approprla-
ton of such portion of the land OF the Chick
asaw nation as would be required for the es-
tahi.hment of cattle trail.
National Drill Preparations.
WASHINGTON, April 15.-National drill
matters are progressing toward early com
phtion. The Eclipse, OF the white lot, was
to-day turned over to the drill committee,
which will proceed at once to fence IL IN anu
erect stands for seating 10000 persons. Inc
committee will give no information as 70 6he
commandant of the encampment, buI runner
continues to name Governor FItz Lee as tne
selection by right Of seniority in rank OF al
the officers expected. Managing 5ecreIaiS
Del4eon to-day received e letter from o9li .
H, H. Wright, commanding First brigade q
Iowa National Guards. which says: a s e
the Montgomery boys have made g very q
rlous mistake, at least mistake ~ Elsins
the matter SO much notoriety Ca9t. lays "
tekes the proper view at the case, aiia 10
letter win have gsod effect with th9 coui-
pahles attending. This i q naeloiiT.i '4A'ii a